Information on Paragliding
The paragliding sport is about 20 years old and is today the most popular kind of air sport. After the training in a flight school and after passing the examination one attains the paragliding license.
About 15000 active paraglider pilots fly in Switzerland. Thus the Swiss Hanggliding Federation, SHV, is the largest air sport federation of Switzerland.
A paragliding equipment weighs approximately 15 to 25 kg and one can transport it in a backpack. With paragliders one starts on easy to moderately bent mountain meadows and one does not jump out of an airplane, in contrary to parachutists, as it is often thought by novices. Only few steps are to be taken for the launch. Experienced paraglider pilots use the thermals (upwinds) and can this way expand their flights on several hours on good days and travel far distances (over 200 km are possible) in the air.
No other aircraft offers such a large flexibility as the paraglider. A paraglider is an airplane out of the backpack which one can easily carry anywhere!
About 15000 active paraglider pilots fly in Switzerland. Thus the Swiss Hanggliding Federation, SHV, is the largest air sport federation of Switzerland.
A paragliding equipment weighs approximately 15 to 25 kg and one can transport it in a backpack. With paragliders one starts on easy to moderately bent mountain meadows and one does not jump out of an airplane, in contrary to parachutists, as it is often thought by novices. Only few steps are to be taken for the launch. Experienced paraglider pilots use the thermals (upwinds) and can this way expand their flights on several hours on good days and travel far distances (over 200 km are possible) in the air.
No other aircraft offers such a large flexibility as the paraglider. A paraglider is an airplane out of the backpack which one can easily carry anywhere!